Help with an AV processor

there's no reason you cant use your oppo as a pre/processor--it'll probably outperform most of the mass market avrs or processors ou there.

How do I do this? I have been running HDMI out from the oppo to the tv.  I can watch DVDs and listen to cds. I just tried running the cable server box to the HDMI in on the oppo then the output from the oppo to the tv. I had no picture so I switched it back until I'm more sure of what I'm doing. How do I proceed? And remember no one knows less about hooking this stuff up than I do. 

@wemfan Just as @loomisjohnson notes, you can use your Oppo as a preamp. See belowhttp://www.oppo-bluray.co.uk/UserFiles/Docs/PDF/BDP-105EU%20Direct%20Power%20Amplifier%20Connection%...
I hope this helps you.
-Al

Al,
it comes up in a language I can't read. Maybe German?

@wemfan 

If you wanna use the Oppo 105 as a preamp surround processor first you will have to set the built-in volume control in the Oppo to variables and make sure you turn down the volume all the way before turning on your Parasound Halo A31 amp. Connect your Oppo directly to your Parasound Halo A31 amp via XLR balanced stereo analog audio on the Oppo 105 to the front LR inputs on the Halo A31 amp, and connect the center channel analog audio out of the Oppo's multi-channel analog audio outputs to a center channel input on your Halo A31 amp. And connect the Oppo's sub out to a subwoofer if you have one. And control the volume from the Oppo. 
I assume you are only doing 3.0 or 3.1 since your Parasound Halo A31 amp is a three-channel amp, unless if you are planning to add more power amp(s) to complete 5.1 or 7.1 setup. 

Alternatively if you are looking for a very good sounding preamp surround processor (pre pro) and if you don't care for 4K video pass through or Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, etc there are some older preamp processors that I would highly recommend to you and today they can be had at quite reasonable prices due to lack of supports for 4K video pass through HDR, Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, etc. 

I highly recommend the Classe SSP 800 av preamp processor. This pre pro originally retailed for $9500 when it was in production and has been discontinued in 2017. Phenomenal sounding AV preamp processor for both movies and stereo music. Nowaday a used SSP 800 can be had in used markets for around $3k ish or less due to lack of supports for latest formats. I used to own the SSP 800 in my reference high end theater room setup. 

The Classe Sigma SSP is my other recommendation and again has been discontinued in 2017 and doesn't support latest formats eg 4K, Dolby Atmos, DTS-X etc and nowaday can be had for around $2500 in used markets. The original retail price was $5k when purchased brand new when it was still in production. This is for the original version of the Sigma SSP, not the Sigma SSP Mkii version which retails for $6 brand new when it was in production and the Mkii version has also been discontinued. The Sigma SSP Mkii version supports Dolby Atmos, DTS-X & 4K video pass through but not HDR nor Dolby Vision. 
Both the Classe SSP 800 & Sigma SSP would sound excellent. 

If you go a pre pro route, you will have to connect your Oppo, cable TV box, etc using HDMI to the pre pro. Your Oppo 105 has dual HDMI outputs, one optimized for audio and the other for video. You will have to split the HDMI AV outputs in the Oppo's menu and connect the video only HDMI out directly to your TV and the audio only HDMI out to a pre pro. 

Hope this helps. 

 

If your Panasonic Plasma TV or cable server box has digital audio output (coaxial or optical), you can connect it to the Oppo-BDP-105D digital audio input.

Hello wemfan,

      Both Loomis and Al above are correct, you can use your Oppo 105D as a preamp processor to do what you want.  Here's how to do it:


1.  Connect an HDMI cable from the output on your cable box to the HDMI input on the back of your Oppo.  Note: this input is listed as "3. HDMI IN-Back" when you later use your Oppo remote "Input" button, located on the top of the remote between the red "Power" button and the disc drawer white "Open" button, to select the proper cable box source.  
     Once setup is complete, you'll be using the Oppo remote to control volume and the cable remote to select the channel.

2.  Connect another HDMI cable from the "HDMI 1" output on the back of the Oppo to the HDMI input on your TV.  Note: you'll also need to select the proper input on your TV.  It's also important to use the HDMI 1 output on the Oppo because it's the only output that benefits from the Oppo's excellent Marvell QDEO video processor. 

3.  Connect a pair of XLR balanced audio cables from the left and right XLR "Stereo Outputs" on the back of the Oppo to the "CH 1" and "CH 3" 
XLR inputs on your A-31 amp.  For wiring simplicity, I suggest using CH 1 for the right channel/speaker and CH 3 for the left channel/speaker.  Set the "Gain" knob to the middle 12:00 position and the "Balanced/Unbalanced" switch to the balanced position on both channel CH 1 and CH 3 inputs. Use speaker wire to connect the right LS50 to CH 1's  speaker outputs and the left LS50 to CH 3's speaker outputs.


4.  Connect a single RCA unbalanced cable from the "Center" output on the back of the Oppo to the "CH 2" RCA input on the A-31 amp.  Set the "Gain" knob to the middle 12:00 position and the "Balanced/Unbalanced" switch to the unbalanced position on CH 2. Use speaker wire to connect the KEF center channel speaker to CH 2's speaker outputs.
     If you want to add a sub, just connect a single RCA unbalanced cable from the "Subwoofer" output on the back of the Oppo to the sub's RCA input.

5.  The final step is to use the Oppo's remote to navigate to the Audio Processing Setup Menu to optimize the audio configuration.  This is the section in which you're able to match the relative volume of your speakers, indicate whether a center ch speaker and/or a sub is being utilized, set the crossover frequency for the sub and determine which speakers will have bass assistance from the sub and which will not.  You can read all about this section beginning on page 63 of your Oppo manual. 

     I'm certain this setup will work well for you since I also use a Panasonic plasma, Oppo 105 (not a D version) and multiple amps in my combo 2-ch music and 5.4 HT system.  The Oppo 105 are excellent serving as surround processors up to 7 channels with a sub or subs.  There's no Atmos but all channels utilize high quality Saber dacs capable of up to 24 bit/192kHz hi-res playback.

Tim

good advise from noble and the others

Caphill,
Using the Oppo for a processor is the way to go for me as I want to keep things as simple as I can. I don't anticipate growing from 3.0 except maybe a sub. I do appreciate all of the info you gave me. THX

Tim, I've read and reread your post and now I have finally got it going but with a few issues. It seems I can run the two main speakers or the center channel but, so far, not at the same time. Under, audio processing- DTS NEO:6 mode, off engages the two main speakers as does the music option. The cinema option turns the two mains off and engages the center channel. How do I engage all 3 speakers at once? I went to Speaker Configuration and turned on the 3 speakers I have and turned off the others and selected 5.1 mode.

Hello wemfan,

Did you do Step#5 on my procedures?


Under the Setup Menu, go into Audio Processing and then into Speaker Configuration- You’ll then see a diagram on your tv of a 5.1 system with 5 speakers, a sub and a guy sitting on a couch. Then follow this procedure:


1. Use the left or right arrow key on your remote until the "Test Tone" area is highlighted (located in back of the couch) and hit enter to turn the test tone on (there’s a speaker symbol at the bottom left of the screen that will indicate if the test tone is on or off).

2. Once the tone is on, use the left or right arrow key to scroll to the FR/Front Right speaker and press enter. You’ll hear some pink noise being played through your FR speaker and you then need to set the following for this speaker:

Size: Set this to "Large" if you want this speaker to run full-range and "Small" if you’re using a sub and want to limit the low frequency output of this speaker. You don’t have a sub yet so set this to "Large".


Distance: Set this to the number of feet away from the speaker your listening position is located.

Trim: Set this to "0dB" initially. Later, you can go back into this section and adjust the relative volume/trim of all 3 of your speakers so they're level matched or set to your preference.

3. Repeat Step#2 for your C/center channel and FL/Front Left speakers.

4. Sit at your listening position and scroll through all 3 speakers and, using the test tone, adjust the Trim on them by ear until all 3 sound the best to you.

     It sounds to me like your center speaker may have been set to "Off" by default. It may help you to read the Oppo manual on this subject starting on page 63. Please let me know if this fixes your issue.

Thanks,
Tim

Thanks, Tim. Its all up and running now and sounds good. I don't know if adding a sub would improve the sound or not? Anyway, everything seems to be correct so I am very pleased and very appreciative of your help. I was able to get it all going by reading and rereading your posts. Thanks Again!

On 3 channel systems where you actually only have left/right/center, I have actually found that sound is worse when you remove the surround speakers from the configuration.  What happens is that the surround channels are output to the front left/right speakers and cause an increase in perceived ambient sound.  It also messes with imaging and the clarity of the center channel (ambient sounds become too much and too amplified and it becomes very difficult to hear/understand dialog).  Enabling the surround speakers in the Oppo configuration will increase the general sound quality of your front stage, even though you don't have the surround speakers in your system.

Hello wemfan,

     I'm glad you got it up and running.  I think any improvements in sound quality, by using a separate expensive AV preamp/processor, would be highly unlikely no matter which exact unit you used and how much it costs.  Even if there were improvements, they'd probably be marginal improvements that are not worth the extra cost, cabling and complexity.  I believe adding a good quality sub would provide a much more obvious improvement in sound performance and enjoyment.  The Oppo 105D will outperform the majority of AV receivers and preamp/processors available  and it's also a much simpler and more elegant solution for your needs. 

     I've never tried what auxinput described, but you could always give it a try and see if you like the sound better with his configuration suggestion. 


Tim   

auxinput,  I will give that a try. Thanks

Tim,
Since very little music will be played on this system and almost all television will a sub be of much benefit? It sounds pretty good now on TV. I haven't tried a CD yet.

Hey wemfan,

    In my opinion, good quality bass reproduction makes music and HT (home theater movies and TV) sound a lot better.  You'll notice more improvements than just the deep bass from about 20-50 Hz that your KEF LS50s are unable to reproduce.  You'll notice the soundstage will become wider and deeper on music and everything will be more interesting and exciting on movies and TV.  Currently, you're not even aware of all the good bass you're not hearing so there's not a sense of anything missing or how much better your system will sound with 1 or 2 good quality subs.

    My system is a combo music and HT living room system and I use four relatively small (1'x1'x2' 44lb) subs in my room driven by a separate 1,000K watt class AB amp/controller.  You'll be amazed how much good quality bass exists on free, satellite and cable tv, even on commercials.

     I'd suggest you try 1 or 2 relatively small good quality subs in your room and position them where they sound best using the "crawl method" (google it).  Based on my experience, I definitely know that 2 subs will perform about twice as good as 1 sub in your room.  Or, start with 1 sub optimally positioned using the crawl method and add a 2nd later on if you think you need it.  
    Of course, you can use any sub or subs you like but, if you're looking for good quality bass at a bargain price, I'd recommend either the REL T-Zero https://rel.net/shop/powered-subwoofers/zero/ or the SVS-SB-1000  
https://www.svsound.com/products/sb-1000?wiz_medium=cpc&wiz_source=google&wiz_campaign=Brand...  They're both similarly priced and the main difference between them is that the SVS will go a bit deeper than the REL.  I know the SVS offers a free home-trial period but I'm not sure about the REL.

      Overall, I think you'll improve your system's performance significantly by adding 1 or 2 subs and it won't be a subtle improvement.  However, I'd still suggest you buy subs with a free in-home trial period just to take all the financial risk out of your decision.
     If you do decide to try a sub or two, I can assist you with proper setup and configuration if you'd like.

Later,
 Tim